Every now and then I remind myself to reflect on life and how lucky I am, I had one of those amazing days today. I think some mornings you wake up more inspired than others and everything is a little more beautiful. Perhaps it’s just called adequate sleep to body ratio. As well as being lucky enough to divulge my time in this wonderful label (again perhaps it’s just the excess sleep talking) I am fortunate enough to be a lecturer, mentoring the next generation of fashion stars. One thing I am always telling them is that you must actively seek inspiration and chose to be inspired it doesn’t always just happen. If you are lucky enough to work in a creative field you can’t let it down.

Floral equations

Colour Explosion

As I have just preached the perks of technology from my last entry it is only fair that I pay attention to a more humbling topic; Hand craft – loving it at the moment. There is only one thing more exciting than re-invention, and that is invention. But we can leave that for another time.

I have recently decided to spend my nights (when not working on exciting SATU stuff) with a hobby. I am generally not too bad with hand crafts, as I grew up helping my Grandma, which realised an obsession of wanting to work with fabrics and garments. I really enjoy screen printing and dying but wanted something a little more of the “clean and dry variety” appropriate for indoor heater action.

Cross stitch it is.

I often overshoot these projects and aim for something well outside of my skill range which I learn upon starting that I will never be able to complete. I purchased a 25cm embroidery ring, drew a picture of a deer on my canvas and off I went!

3 days later I have completed an ear and half an antler.

But I am sure this time I will get there in the end………perhaps.         Maybe, check back in a year.

So for now I will just appreciate the wonders of cleaver crafters taking age old techniques to modern and exciting places.

Macrame

Pot hanger and divider by smalltown.net.au

Cross Stitch

Beading

Beaded accessories fionapaxton.com

Welcome………… This is the beginning, well of the blog anyway. In truth I have been developing Satu since 2008. After leaving the somewhat mundane existence of the full time job at the end of 2009 I was able to fully immerse myself in the development and creation of the label. When I was in fashion school it was never my desire to have the ownership of a personal label, well that is what I told people, with the ever common question “so will you start a label when finishing uni?” I am still not sure why that is an assumption that is made of young designers. The thought of controlling a design concept and seeing it through from start to finish was just short of a terrifying thought. With so much of you exposed as a designer, manager, co-ordinator of all things supply and in my case pattern maker the room for error not to mention constructing a bad range is prevalent on so many levels. However when you have entered the work force in a commercial design capacity, you are able to slowly bring to life the balance of risk and opportunity against the fear and uncertainty.

There is much I would have done differently in hindsight, but isn’t that true to anything? Mostly I can say, I would not want to swap any of the negative or challenging experiences I have faced in running Satu. They have provided me with a positive problem solving attitude, thick skin, an epic desire to succeed and the biggest heartfelt passion I have yet for the people, suppliers, supporters and lovers of the fashion industry. So it may not be the beginning but definitely a new chapter for myself and Satu.

From Winter 09 - photo courtesy Darley Management

from Winter 08

from Winter 09 - photo courtesy Darley Management

from Winter 08 - photo courtesy Darley Management

from Winter 09 - photo courtesy Darley Management

from Winter 10

from Winter 10

from Winter 10 - photo courtesy Darley Management

from Penthouse Mouse Winter 10

from Summer 10

from Summer 11

from Winter 10

This is it! My new website has now been launched and I couldn’t be more excited! Everything is falling into place with the new season, which should be on shelves imminently, and though this blog is primarily about the label, I will also be using this blog as an outlet for inspiration and opinion.

Thanks for joining me on this journey!